项目介绍

2025年5月15日

Job description

Are you interested in a PhD focusing on the relationships between regenerative farming practices, biodiversity and ecosystem services within the wider landscape? This PhD will analyze the impacts of regenerative farming practices on and the benefits received from biodiversity and ecosystems services. The findings will be used to assess the potential of regenerative farming in the Netherlands.

There is growing pressure on agriculture and the entire food system to increase global production while promoting sustainability in terms of farmers’ incomes, soil health, input use, and environmental and climate impact. Together with Dutch farmers, ReGeNL is a transdisciplinary program developing a future-proof agricultural sector in which agriculture goes hand in hand with soil health and nature restoration, and a good revenue model for farmers. Between now and 2030, ReGeNL will start the transition to regenerative agriculture with 1000 farmers. The aim is to make regenerative agriculture the new standard by 2040.

You will be one of 19 PhD’s recruited to support the program. Your PhD is a joint project of the Soil Geography and Landscape group and the Earth Systems and Global Change group of Wageningen University. You will be based at the Earth Systems and Global Change group at Wageningen University.

The aim of this PhD is to better understand the effect of different regenerative farming practices on various landscape aspects and conversely the conditions of the landscape for successful regenerative farming. Landscape aspects include soil health, natural elements, biodiversity and water quality. You will start your research at the landscape scale, and subsequently scale your work up to the full extent of the Netherlands. You will use, refine and add new relationships to existing empirical models, such as GLOBIO and the Natural Capital Model, to study how regenerative practices will improve nature and water quality, and to answer questions such as how much nature is needed for regenerative agriculture to function well within the landscape. In this PhD, existing monitoring network data and locally collected field data will be available for the modelling work, in addition to freely available spatial data such as satellite data. You will work alongside other PhDs on soil health, biodiversity and land use intensity assessments, from field to national scale.

Requirements

As a PhD you will receive support and mentorship in the design and implementation of your PhD project. You will develop a training and supervision plan with your supervisory team and be part of the ReGeNL training programme. The requirements to applicants are:

You have:

• A completed master’s degree in a field related to the topic the PhD project (e.g. environmental science, agricultural science, ecology or an adjacent field)
• Proven affinity with the application of statistical methods for data analysis of spatial and temporal datasets in the domain of agronomy, ecology and environmental sciences
• Proven affinity with modeling, e.g. GAMS.
• Excellent writing and presenting skills in English (C1 level)
• Affinity with societal challenges in the domains of agriculture and food systems
• Motivation to work in a transdisciplinary project with many project partners and farmers
• Experience with or interest in quantitative research methods
• Being a team player
• Speak or willing to learn Dutch within the first year of the PhD

You will work here:
Earth Systems and Global Change group
The Earth Systems and Global Change Group is a solution-oriented inter to trans-disciplinary research group focusing on sustainability and global change. At Earth Systems and Global Change, our research and teaching revolves around comprehensive integration. We generate knowledge across these systems, employing innovative systems analysis tools and quantitative and qualitative approaches for data collection, modelling, and integrated assessment. Our approach spans diverse stakeholders, embracing inter- and trans-disciplinarity to enact real change.

Through our work, we contribute to a better understanding of the challenges posed by Global Change but also to pioneer actionable solutions, empowering communities and policymakers to create a resilient and sustainable future for all.

The Soil Geography and Landscape group
The mission of the group is to improve and share understanding of patterns and dynamics of soils, landscapes and earth surface dynamics and their drivers, like climate change and human-landscape interactions. The group uses integrative approaches that combine biophysical and anthropogenic elements to gain insight in past, present and future system dynamics. Through this, we aim to support system-based solutions in land management and spatial planning, sustainable management of soils, landscapes and ecosystems (e.g. sandy, riverine, deltaic and urban), and protection of cultural and geoheritage.

Together with three other chair groups, the Soil Geography and Landscape Group forms the Wageningen Soil Cluster, which has an excellent international reputation in soil science.

Conditions of employment

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• Partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.

The gross salary for the first year is € 2.901,- per month rising to € 3.707,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the “best university” in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. We can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

Employer

Wageningen University & Research

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.

Additional information

For more information about the position, please contact any of the following persons:
Titia Mulder: email: titia.mulder@wur.nl phone number: +31317485611; Rob Alkemade email: rob.alkemade@wur.nl, phone number: +31629510692; Cynthia van Leeuwen email: Cynthia.vanleeuwen@wur.nl, phone number: +31317482024; Hannah van Zanten email: Hannah.vanzanten@wur.nl, phone number: +31633045914

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Edgar Tijhuis, Corporate Recruiter, via edgar.tijhuis@wur.nl.

Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.
You can apply until June 9th 2025. The first interviews are scheduled soon afterwards.

Additional information form
For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below:

Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process.

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone’s unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.